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Garrison School Board Enters Mediation Stage for Teachers' Contract
100th anniversary plans for original school building move forward
by Kevin Foley
A score of teachers and staff along with a few supportive parents turned out at the new year's first meeting of the Garrison School Board on January 11, 2008 to press their case for resolution of the contract dispute between the employees of the Garrison School and the Board. The last contracts for both teachers and staff expired in May of 2007.
School Board president Anita Prentice opened the meeting in the school library by asking the Board to agree to allow the public comment period to occur at the outset out of consideration for all those who attended, to which the Board agreed.
School Superintendent Gloria Colucci began the discussion by acknowledging the contract had been under negotiation since last May and that the parties had entered into mediation the Monday before. She said both sides had agreed to a confidentiality provision and were therefore restrained from discussing the details of their negotiations.
First up to the microphone was Mary Foppiano, a social studies teacher and vice president of the Garrison Teacher's Association. "We appreciate the unity and support the faculty and staff have received during this period we have been working without a contract. We are dedicated and hardworking and we deserve a fair contract," she said to the polite applause of her fellow teachers, many of whom sported black tee shirts adorned with a quote about the value of education from the scientist Louis Pasteur.
A parent, Pauline Fusco, said she was in support of the teachers. "I trust my children to them everyday. I have a child that requires extra help. I don't know where he'd be without them. I think they deserve what they're asking for," she declared.
John Spada said he had been a taxpayer in Garrison for 35 years but that it wasn't until he became a substitute teacher five years ago that he realized "how awesome the responsibility really is. "There is little room for error when you stand in front of a classroom," he said. Spada said the job was continuing to get more challenging with special needs children and other issues. "They deserve a fair contract", he said.
Board President Prentice then turned the meeting over to Superintendent Colucci for her regular report to the Board. She congratulated the K-3 grades for the success of their holiday concert. Post holidays Colucci said, "the children have settled in." She reminded the Board January is a testing month with various grades taking required exams.
Other items on the Superintendent's agenda included planning for the 100th anniversary of the original stone school building; expansion of the Mighty Theater program to the elementary grades as part of the Learning Through the Arts initiative; a budget committee meeting on January 16 at 7pm; and a school closing on January 18 for a staff development day.
Colucci also noted that eighth graders would soon be participating in the high school selection process, which involves presentations from Haldane High School in Cold Spring in January and James I. O'Neill in Highland Falls in February. The aspiring high school students will also meet with the respective principals and visit the schools in the near future.
The Board then voted approval of the hiring of a new special needs aide and briefly discussed an upcoming board retreat.
Board member Eric Jacoby, chair of the technology committee, reported his group was reviewing the current status of school technical resources, including server adequacy, and was working toward including a new technical services plan in time for inclusion in the upcoming budget proposal.
Under action items Board chair Prentice announced that the Garrison vote on the school budget would be May 20, 2008 along with the election for two board seats presently held by Diana Swinburne and James Cannon.
During board member comments Carol McCullough said The Garrison Children's Education Fund would have their annual Spring Thaw fundraiser on March 29, 2008 at the Garrison restaurant. The Fund sponsors a number of initiatives to aid the school, including student trips, said McCullough.
Board chair Anita Prentice said the search for a sign maker to make a permanent school sign continued. She said she hoped the sign would be complete in time for the 100th anniversary of the cornerstone laying for the school.
And in a final history lesson Prentice mentioned the closing of the long time Garrison landmark Guinan's store and pub which, she noted, will have its last Irish music session on January 24.
The Board then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. The next meeting of the Garrison School Board is scheduled for January 23.
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